The federal government has been restrained from sacking the over 16,000 resident doctors across the country, a court has ruled in Lagos.
The National Industrial Court (NIC) on Monday, August 25, 2014 made the ruling restraining the federal government through the chief medical directors of 37 medical institutions from firing the doctors who were suspended for their involvement in the industrial action by Nigerian doctors.
Justice Babatunde Adejuwon, president of the NIC gave the ruling on a motion on notice by the registered trustee of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) gainst the attorney general of the federation, the minister of health, onyebuchi Chukwu and 37 chief medical directors of university teaching hospitals and federal medical centres across the country.
Vanguard reports:
Joined as respondents in the suit, are the Chief Medical Directors of Aminu Kanu Teaching Hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Calabar Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, University of Portharcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.
Others respondents, are the medical Directors of Federal Medical Centres in Asaba, Azare, Bida, Birnin-Kebbi, Birnin Kudu, Gombe, Keffi, Gusau, Ido-Ekiti, Katsina, Lokoja, Makurdi, Owerri, Owo, Umuahia, Yenegoa, Yola, Ebute Metta, Lagos and Yobe state respectively.
In his ruling, Adejumon, further ordered that status quo ante be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the resident doctors.
On the issue of suspension training programmes for doctors, the court, also directed that the claimant (NMA) to put all the respondents on notice, saying the issue would be better addressed when parties joined issues before the court.
